Plans to standardise recycling collections have been welcomed by Westmorland and Furness Council.
Last week, the Government set out more information about its intention to drive simpler recycling collections that will see the same materials collected from homes, workplaces and schools.
This would standardise services in all areas, ending what Government describe as a confusing patchwork of different approaches across England.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s cabinet member for climate, biodiversity and environmental services, Councillor Giles Archibald, said: “We fully support this initiative and we are already working towards the principles of simpler recycling through our own harmonisation programme.
“When the new council was formed by local government reorganisation last year it inherited waste and recycling services from the three legacy councils in Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland, each with different approaches to collections.
“This means there are still differences between the three areas in collection frequencies, types of containers used and whether certain collections are subject to a separate charge.
“We understand residents’ frustrations that services differ between the three different areas. We share those frustrations and are committed to harmonising the services.
“We have made this harmonisation of waste and recycling services a priority for the new council and work is already under way to consider the challenges, practicalities and impacts of the various options that need to be considered.
“At the heart of this is our intention to improve recycling options and make it easier and simpler for our communities to recycle, which aligns with the Government’s proposals and contributes to our ambition to ensure Westmorland and Furness becomes carbon net zero by 2037.’’
Simpler Recycling reforms were first announced in October 2023, when Government set out its expectations that, from March 31 2026, councils would be required to collect a standardised list of materials from the kerbside, including aluminium and steel cans, plastic containers, paper and card, glass bottles and jars, Tetrapak cartons and garden waste, which Government say may be a charged service.
Recycling Minister Robbie Moore also confirmed last week that councils will be allowed to collect plastic, metal, glass, paper and card in one bin in all circumstances. Similarly, food and garden waste will also be allowed to be co-collected.
Currently, Westmorland and Furness Council operates different recycling schemes in Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland – a legacy from the previous district councils, which merged into the current authority on April 1 2023.
South Lakeland
Blue recycling boxes for:
- paper and card
- glass bottles and jars
Blue recycling bags for:
- plastic bottles
- pots (but not flower pots)
- tubs and trays
- cans
- aluminium foil
- lids from bottles and jars
Eden
Residents have a green plastic box for cans, tins and glass and two green canvas bags each for:
- paper and card – do not mix hard plastics with paper and card in a green bag
- hard plastics such as plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, plastic food trays, tubs and containers
Each household is entitled to two green bags and one green plastic box.
Plastic bags, cling film, food wrappings or cartons (often referred to as Tetrapaks) are not allowed in green bags.
Barrow
People have red recycling containers. The guidelines for this say:
Red recycling containers are used for cleaned recycling materials only.
Mixed glass should be separated and placed in the red recycling box. There should be no drinking glasses or broken glass in the bin.
Items that should not go in the recycling bin:
- takeaway pizza boxes or cardboard contaminated with grease
- takeaway containers
- plastic bags of any kind
- crisp or biscuit wrappers
- black plastic
- tissues, foil wrapping paper, kitchen roll, toilet tissue
- wet paper and cardboard
- drinking glasses and broken glass
- metal other than drinks cans and tin cans
- polystyrene and bubble wrap
- sharps and syringes
